BUFFALO TWP — For Steve Feder, it’s all about family.

Soon, it may be all about winning.

Feder, 29, of Butler, completed his sixth season of racing his No. 45 Modified last weekend at Lernerville Speedway. And it was his best season yet.

“We jumped into the Modified division six years ago, straight out of lawn mower racing,” Feder said. “None of us had any experience or background in this. We’ve been learning on the fly.”

Feder’s crew members include his father, Harold, and 25-year-old brother Matt. His mother, June, and his sister, Jen, help out cleaning off the car. Matt’s girlfriend, Elizabeth Keasey, handles the race team’s social media work.

“It’s a real family affair,” Feder said. “We have fun doing this together.”

Harold Feder did some work with race driver Tim Temple’s car at Lernerville during the 1970’s. He had not worked on anyone’s car since.

“That was so long ago and the cars have changed so much ... Any knowledge I may have gained back then is pretty worthless now,” the elder Feder said.

Then again, he’s re-learned the sport in a hurry.

After an eighth-place finish in Modified points last year, Feder vaulted into a solid fourth-place finish this season. He had three heat wins, six top-five feature finishes and nine top-tens.

He also finished second in feature races twice this season, despite still looking for career feature win No. 1.

“For the first time in a while, I feel like that win is coming,” Feder said. “I know we’re getting close.

“It’s going to be a special night for all of us when it happens.”

The biggest plus for Feder this year is his new race car. He wanted to run it at Lernerville last year, but a lack of finances prevented it.

“I blew a motor up and that blew our funds,” Fexer said. “We couldn’t get the car ready.

“Racing a new car for the first time has made a huge difference. I’m no longer driving another guy’s used-up stuff.”

The only drivers to finish ahead of Feder in points at Lernerville this season were seven-time points champion Brian Swartzlander, Jeremiah Shingledecker and Slippery Rock resident Dave Murdick. Shingledecker and Murdick are former track champions.

Feder’s 352 points were 51 ahead of Harrisville’s Dean Pearson, who was fifth in the standings.

That’s fast company being kept by a relatively green race team.

“All I knew when I got started in this was basic mechanics,” Matt Feder said. “I talked to other people in the pits to get a feel for what we wanted to do with the car.

“Swartzlander, Murdick ... All of the guys are helpful. They want you to succeed because they want the (Modified) division to succeed.”

The younger Feder has no inclination to get behind the wheel himself.

“I have a car I run in the Enduro here once a year and I’ve taken this car out for fast laps. That’s enough for me,” he said.

Harold Feder said victory lane is “what the family is striving for.”

And they’re enjoying the ride.

“This has been a family project that’s kept all of us together,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s been a good experience for everyone.”

Lernerville Speedway 2012 Final Points Standings

(top 15)

Sprints

Kevin Schaeffer 460, Rod George 435, Eric Williams 402, Carl Bowser 365, Jack Sodeman Jr. 345, Brandon Matus 293, Pete Miller III 228, Scott Priester 216, Brandon Spithaler 203, Brian Steinman 200, Danny Holtgraver 184, Andy McKisson 168, Dan Kuriger 164

Late Models

Jared Miley 454, John Garvin Jr. 400, Lynn Geisler/Mike Pegher Jr. 385, Doug Eck 383, Mike/Davey Johnson 306, Alex Ferree 269, Garrett Krummert 266, Chuck Sarver 265, Todd Bachman 235, Ken Schaltenbrand 223, Boom Briggs 222, Jim Detman/Brian Swartzlander 221, Jeff Jones 211, Chub Frank 170, Dan Swartzlander 163

Modifieds

Brian Swartzlander 445, Jeremiah Shingledecker 413, Dave Murdick 398, Steve Feder 352, Dean Pearson 301, Kevin Bolland 298, Eric Gabany 292, Mark Frankhouser 287, Carl Murdick 264, Brad Rapp 263, Mike Turner 263, Shawn Fleeger 192, Bob Warren 190, Dave Reges 141, Phil Evans Jr. 128

Sportsman Stocks

Corey McPherson 483, Jim Fosnaught 444, Rob Shook/Chris Schneider 386, AJ Flick 385, Mike Miller 347, Joe Kelley 316, Ryan Moyer 313, Greg Beach 313, Wayne Carbo 309, Brett McDonald 296, Pat Hanley 285, Scott Byers 266, Terry Young 257, Paul Schreckengost 254, Mark Sanders 238